richards



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. P. RICHARDS. Q

GAR COUPLING.

No. 498,029. 7 Patented May 23, 1893.

mass.

UNiTnn STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

WILLARD F. RICHARDS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

S1PE(JILFICA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,029, dated May 23, 1893.

Application filed December 6, 1892. Serial No. 454,227. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLARD F. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Combined Coupler and Buffer for Locomotives and Tenders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in combined couplers and buflfers for locomotives and tenders, and has for its object the production of a coupling which will be normally held in its central or looking position, but which is nevertheless capable of a limited lateral motion in either direction, thus relieving the strains upon the coupler'heads and adjacent parts now usually experienced in rounding curves, and preserving also, to a great extent, the central line of ull.

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating my said invention, in the several parts of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1, represents a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2, is a top plan view of the same in part section without the buffer. Fig. 3, is a front elevation; and Fig. 4, is a top plan View of the buffer and coupler combined.

A, represents a cross or transverse section of the end sill of a locomotive or tender, to which my invention is secured in any usual and ordinary manner.

B, is the buffer having the forwardly projecting perforated lugs or bearings a, a, a, a, which, as shown in Fig. 4, are connected by the horizontal ribs 19,1), between which works the rear end of the coupler head 0. As shown in the drawings, this coupler head is of the standard master car builders type, having 40 the fixed guard arm 0, and the movable rotary knuckleor coupling hook d, pivoted at cl, to engage with a corresponding knuckle or coupling hook on a car. In view of the purposes for which this coupler is specially designed, however, the said knuckle or coupling hook at, may be cast integral with the coupler-head C, if desired. At opposite sides of the coupler-head C, and in the same vertical plane with each other, are the projections or o lugs D, I), forming bearings for the outer ends of the lateral links E, E, which are pivoted at said ends in the said bearings by the pins e, e. The inner ends of the links E, E, are provided with the extended hubs f, f, of a height or length to, fit neatly between the projecting lugs a, a, a, a, on the buffer A, where they are retained and pivoted by the pins g, 9.

As shown in Fig.2, the rearend of the coupler O, is provided with two recesses h, h, in line with each other, and at right angles to the longitudinal line of the coupler. These recesses are preferably separated by the partition or web 'i, and each contains a coil spring j,j,which havetheirouterends incased within loose thimbles, or caps It, 71;, impinging against the links E, E, respectively. It will be noticed that the links E, E, are not parallel to each other, but converge toward their outer ends, while their inner ends are constantlyiin- 7c pinged .by the spring caps 7t, 1t, actuated by the springs j, j, which are placed in position under a slight initial compression; the object being to constantly hold or draw the coupler head 0, to its normal position, viz., to the cen- 75 tral line of pull. It should also be remarked that the rear end of thecoupler 0, passes between and travels upon the transverse ribs 19, b, of the buffer, forming a back bearing to hold the coupler head in its longitudinal position, and keep it from sagging when the link pins become worn.

The operation of my device is as follows: When the coupler is not engaged, the springs j,j', hold it positively in its proper coupling position, where it may engage with, and be engaged by, a corresponding coupler. When the coupler is engaged with its mate, and any force is experienced producing a lateral strain upon said couplers, as for example, when rounding a curve, the coupler head 0, will swing to one side or the other a limited dis tance upon the pins or pivots e, e, and g,g, and between the transverse ribs b, b, of the buffer. By this movement, causing achange 5 in the position of the links E, E, one of the coil springs j, j, in the recesses h, h, is extended and the other compressed, thecompressed spring exerting its tension and tending to force the coupler head 0, to its normal I00 or central posit-ion, which is immediately assumed upon passing toastraight track, orupon removing the force exerted to move the coupler head out of its said normal position.

If desired, the springs j, j, maybe dispensed with and the device still be operative, as in this type of coupler it is not absolutely essential for the coupler head to, be in its exact coupling position, but in practice, I prefer to employ the said springs and make the action of the coupler rapid and positive.

What I claim as Inyinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a combined locomotive tender coupler and buffer, the combination of a rigid bufier and a coupler pivoted thereto by links and being capable of a limited lateral movement with relation to said buffer, substantially as described.

2. A coupler provided with spring pockets or recesses, in combination with springs in said pockets, and links pivoted to said coup- E ler at a point beyond and in front of said springs and a rigid buffer to which the inner ends of said links are pivoted, substantially 1 as described.

3. A coupler pivoted to a rigid buffer by lateral links converging at their outer ends, and normally held in a central position by means of springs confined in recesses in said coupler and impinging with opposing forces v upon the said links, substantially as described.

4. A buffer having perforated lugs or projections and two horizontal ribs or webs, in combination with a coupler head pivoted in i said lugs by lateral links, and having a bearing and working between the horizontal ribs or webs, substantially as described. I

Signed at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, this 17th day of November, A. D. 1892.

WILLARD F. RICHARDS. Witnesses:

ROBERT GIRVE L. S. CONSTANTINE. 

